Vehicular vision system with adaptive field of view

ABSTRACT

A vehicular vision system includes a camera fixedly mounted at a vehicle. The camera has a central viewing axis that bisects a total available field of view exterior of the vehicle of the camera into an at least 90 degrees zone to the left and to the right of the central viewing axis. During a driving maneuver of the vehicle, a video display screen displays video images representative of a reduced field of view of the camera that is less than the total available field of view exterior of the vehicle. During the driving maneuver of the vehicle, and as the steering angle of the vehicle is adjusted toward the right side or left side of the vehicle, the reduced field of view of the camera digitally pans toward the respective right side or left side of the total available field of view exterior of the vehicle of the camera.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 17/648,002, filed Jan. 14, 2022, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,588,963,which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/286,683,filed Oct. 6, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,228,700, which claims thefiling benefits of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/238,425,filed Oct. 7, 2015, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference inits entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a vehicle vision system for avehicle and, more particularly, to a vehicle vision system that utilizesone or more cameras at a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Use of imaging sensors in vehicle imaging systems is common and known.Examples of such known systems are described in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,949,331; 5,670,935 and/or 5,550,677, which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a driver assistance system or visionsystem or imaging system for a vehicle that utilizes one or more cameras(preferably one or more CMOS cameras) to capture image datarepresentative of images exterior of the vehicle, and provides anadaptive field of view for a fixed camera, such as for a fixedly mountedrearward viewing camera having a fixed field of view. The camera mayhave a wide angle lens that provides a total available field of view ofup to about 180 degrees or more, but the camera or image processor mayonly use a portion or sub-array representative of a portion or region ofthe full field of view, such as a region of about 135 degrees (about67.5 degrees (+/− about 10 degrees) to either side of a central orprincipal viewing axis of the imager and lens). The system of thepresent invention utilizes image processing of image data captured bythe imager to digitally pan or sweep or extend the implemented field ofview based on the steering wheel angle over the entire available fieldof view of the camera lens.

Thus, the system provides for reduced image processing by processingimage data captured by only a portion or sub-array of the pixelatedimaging array. The system also provides enhancement in the visibilityrearward of the vehicle to the driver of the vehicle (viewing thedisplayed captured images) due to utilization of the captured image datarepresentative of the region of interest, depending on the direction oftravel, and the increase or change in the region of interest (reducedfield of view).

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of thepresent invention will become apparent upon review of the followingspecification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a vehicle with a vision system thatincorporates cameras in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic of the field of view of a rearward viewing camera,showing the camera's full field of view and its implemented field ofview;

FIG. 3 is a schematic of the field of view of the rearward viewingcamera, showing the effective or implemented field of view shifted tothe left based on the steering wheel angle of the vehicle;

FIG. 4 is a schematic of the field of view of the rearward viewingcamera, showing the effective or implemented field of view shifted tothe right based on the steering wheel angle of the vehicle;

FIG. 5 is a schematic of the field of view of the rearward viewingcamera, showing the effective or implemented field of view widened orexpanded at the left side based on the steering wheel angle of thevehicle; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic of the field of view of the rearward viewingcamera, showing the effective or implemented field of view widened orexpanded at the right side based on the steering wheel angle of thevehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A vehicle vision system and/or driver assist system and/or objectdetection system and/or alert system operates to capture images exteriorof the vehicle and may process the captured image data to display imagesand to detect objects at or near the vehicle and in the predicted pathof the vehicle, such as to assist a driver of the vehicle in maneuveringthe vehicle in a rearward direction. The vision system includes an imageprocessor or image processing system that is operable to receive imagedata from one or more cameras and provide an output to a display devicefor displaying images representative of the captured image data.Optionally, the vision system may provide display, such as a rearviewdisplay or a top down or bird's eye or surround view display or thelike.

Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depictedtherein, a vehicle 10 includes an imaging system or vision system 12that includes at least one exterior facing imaging sensor or camera,such as a rearward facing imaging sensor or camera 14 a (and the systemmay optionally include multiple exterior facing imaging sensors orcameras, such as a forwardly facing camera 14 b at the front (or at thewindshield) of the vehicle, and a sidewardly/rearwardly facing camera 14c, 14 d at respective sides of the vehicle), which captures imagesexterior of the vehicle, with the camera having a lens for focusingimages at or onto an imaging array or imaging plane or imager of thecamera (FIG. 1 ). Optionally, a forward viewing camera may be disposedat the windshield of the vehicle and view through the windshield andforward of the vehicle, such as for a machine vision system (such as fortraffic sign recognition, headlamp control, pedestrian detection,collision avoidance, lane marker detection and/or the like). The visionsystem 12 includes a control or electronic control unit (ECU) orprocessor 18 that is operable to process image data captured by thecamera or cameras and may detect objects or the like and/or providedisplayed images at a display device 16 for viewing by the driver of thevehicle (although shown in FIG. 1 as being part of or incorporated in orat an interior rearview mirror assembly 20 of the vehicle, the controland/or the display device may be disposed elsewhere at or in thevehicle). The data transfer or signal communication from the camera tothe ECU may comprise any suitable data or communication link, such as avehicle network bus or the like of the equipped vehicle.

The driver assist system of the present invention provides an adjustablefield of view of the camera (such as a rearward viewing camera at therear of the vehicle and having a wide angle or fisheye lens thatprovides about a 180 degree field of view), with the camera fixedlymounted at or disposed at the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 2 , the lens mayprovide a full field of view (FOV) of about 180 degrees (or more or lessthan about 180 degrees depending on the particular lens andapplication), and the imager or imaging array of the camera may captureimage data representative of the full 180 degree FOV. An image processormay process only a portion of the captured image data (such as asub-array of photosensing elements of the imager or imaging array of thecamera) representative of a narrower or effective or implemented FOV(such as about 135 degrees centered about a principal viewing axis ofthe camera). Such processing of only a portion of the captured imagedata reduces processing requirements and processes image datarepresentative of a region of interest rearward of vehicle when thevehicle is traveling or reversing in a generally straight line.

When the steering angle of the vehicle is changed (via the driverturning the steering wheel in either direction) during a reversingmaneuver, the image processor and vision system of the present inventionadjusts processing of captured image data to digitally pan or sweep orextend the implemented or effective FOV toward one side or the other,depending on the steering direction. For example, and such as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4 , the image processor may adjust image data processing byshifting the about 135 degree reduced or implemented or effective FOVtoward one side or the other, such as by shifting the center orprincipal viewing axis of the reduced field of view towards one side orthe other of the center axis of the full field of view. For example, andsuch as shown in FIG. 3 , the system may expand the field of view towardthe left side while reducing the field of view at the right side (orshifting the right border of the field of view towards the center axisof the camera), responsive to the vehicle turning in a left directionduring a reversing maneuver. Similarly, for example, and such as shownin FIG. 4 , the system may expand the field of view toward the rightside while reducing the field of view at the left side (or shifting theleft border of the field of view towards the center axis of the camera),responsive to the vehicle turning in a right direction during areversing maneuver.

For example, the camera may comprise a wide angle lens providing thefield of view, and the camera captures an image data set representativeof the field of view of the camera when the camera is disposed at thevehicle. An image processor is operable to process image data capturedby the camera, and processes a sub-set of the image data set that isrepresentative of a sub-portion of the field of view of the camera (thatis less than the full field of view of said camera). The sub-set of theimage data set that is processed by the image processor is determinedbased on steering of the vehicle, such that the sub-set is determined oradjusted or selected as the steering of the vehicle changes. Forexample, if the vehicle is steered to the left, the sub-set of the imagedata set that is processed by the image processor is a sub-set that istowards the left side or that represents a left sub-portion of the fieldof view of the camera.

Optionally, the determined sub-set of the image data set may bedetermined by determining or selecting a sub-set of the image data setthat is representative of a sub-portion of the field of view that has aprincipal axis extending sideward of the vehicle that corresponds to thedirection in which the vehicle is steered. The sub-set of image data maybe continuously determined or selected or adjusted as the steeringchanges, such that the processed sub-set of image data changescorresponding to steering changes of the vehicle (so that the imageprocessor is processing image data at a region generally centered aroundthe direction of steering of the vehicle at that time).

Similarly, the system may include a display that displays images derivedfrom a sub-set of the image data set representative of a sub-portion ofthe field of view of the camera that is less than the field of view ofsaid camera. The sub-set of the image data set that represents thedisplayed sub-portion of the field of view of the camera is determinedbased on steering of the vehicle. For example, if the vehicle is steeredto the left, the images that are displayed are representative of asub-set that is towards the left side or that represents a leftsub-portion of the field of view of the camera.

Optionally, the determined sub-set of the image data set may bedetermined by determining or selecting a sub-set of the image data setthat is representative of a sub-portion of the field of view that has aprincipal axis extending sideward of the vehicle that corresponds to thedirection in which the vehicle is steered. The sub-set of image data maybe continuously determined or selected or adjusted as the steeringchanges, such that the displayed images change (i.e., the sub-portion ofthe field of view changes) corresponding to steering changes of thevehicle (so that the display is displaying images representative of afield of view generally centered around the direction of steering of thevehicle at that time).

The system thus may continuously or intermittently or episodicallydetermine the current steering direction of the vehicle and may selector determine a sub-set of image data that is representative of asub-portion field of view that has its principal or center axis aimed oralong the current steering direction. As the steering direction changes,a different sub-set of image data is selected or determined, with thedifferent or new sub-set of image data having its principal or centeraxis aimed or along the then current steering direction. The sub-set ofimage data may be processed by an image processor for enhanced objectdetection in the sub-portion of the field of view and/or the sub-set ofimage data may be used to display the sub-portion of the field of viewassociated with or captured by the determined sub-set of image data.

By sweeping/panning the implemented sub-FOV across the range ofavailable FOV based on the direction of the steering wheel anglerotation, either left or right, the system processes image datarepresentative of the region of interest rearward of the vehicle andreduces processing requirements by not processing image datarepresentative of other areas (such as regions or areas at the oppositeside of the vehicle from the turning direction). The image processorprocesses image data captured by a selected or appropriate portion orsub-array of the imaging array sensor (such as a smaller or reduced twodimensional array of photosensing sensors selected from the larger twodimensional array of photosensing sensors of the imager).

Optionally, and with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 , the system may expandor contract the effective or implemented FOV on one side, based on thedirection of steering wheel rotation, while keeping the other side fixedat its original position. The system thus expands the implemented FOV toinclude the region of interest at the side towards which the vehicle isturning during a reversing maneuver. For example, and such as shown inFIG. 5 , when the steering wheel angle is turned to the left, the imageprocessor may process image data captured by the fixed FOV sub-array(spanning the about 135 degree FOV) and may process image data capturedby the imager that is representative of the region toward the left sideof the vehicle to expand the implemented FOV to include a greater regionat the left side of the vehicle. Similarly, for example, and such asshown in FIG. 6 , when the steering wheel angle is turned to the right,the image processor may process image data captured by the fixed FOVsub-array (spanning the about 135 degree FOV) and may process image datacaptured by the imager that is representative of the region toward theright side of the vehicle to expand the implemented FOV to include agreater region at the right side of the vehicle.

Thus, the present invention provides adjustment of or panning orsweeping or extending the implemented or effective sub-portion of thefield of view of a camera, with the adjustment or determination orselection of the sub-FOV being responsive to the steering wheel angle ofthe vehicle. The adjustment adjusts the implemented or effective orutilized field of view of the camera while the camera itself remainsfixedly mounted at the vehicle. The adjustment is achieved via imageprocessing and provides for reduced processing of captured image dataand provides enhanced viewing in a desired or appropriate directionwithout physically moving the camera or imager or lens. The adjustmentmay result in the processed or effective field of view of the cameraextending more towards a side region ahead of the vehicle when thevehicle is steered towards that side. For example, when the driver turnsto the right, the system may process image data captured of a rightregion of the field of view of the camera to enhance object detection inthat area.

The system also provides enhanced display of images to the driver of thevehicle (who may view the displayed captured images during a reversingmaneuver of the vehicle) due to the system's utilization of the capturedimage data representative of the region of interest, depending on thedirection of travel, and the increase or change in the region ofinterest (reduced field of view). The display may display imagesrepresentative of the region of interest as the region changes, and notdisplay images representative of regions not of interest (such asregions at a side of the vehicle opposite of the direction that thevehicle is being steered during a reversing maneuver). Thus, the regionof interest may be displayed larger than if displayed with the rest ofthe captured image (of the full field of view) to provide enhancedviewing by the driver of the vehicle of the actual region of interestduring a reversing maneuver (with the driver not viewing regions not ofinterest or of less interest to the driver during the reversingmaneuver).

The driver assistance system thus provides enhanced image dataprocessing and capture of the region of interest rearward of the vehicledepending on the steering angle of the vehicle during a reversingmaneuver. The system may be responsive to an input or signal indicativeof the steering wheel angle, and may receive such a signal via a vehiclenetwork or communication bus of the vehicle or the like. The capturedimage data of the region of interest (the region encompassed by theimplemented or reduced field of view) may be used for display of thatregion at a display in the vehicle and viewable by the driver of thevehicle during the reversing maneuver. Optionally, the captured imagedata of the region of interest may be used for object detection ofobjects that may be present in the region of interest during thereversing maneuver (whereby the system may also provide an alert orwarning responsive to detection of an object rearward of the vehicle inthe region of interest during the reversing maneuver).

The camera or sensor may comprise any suitable camera or sensor.Optionally, the camera may comprise a “smart camera” that includes theimaging sensor array and associated circuitry and image processingcircuitry and electrical connectors and the like as part of a cameramodule, such as by utilizing aspects of the vision systems described inInternational Publication Nos. WO 2013/081984 and/or WO 2013/081985,which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

The system includes an image processor operable to process image datacaptured by the camera or cameras, such as for detecting objects orother vehicles or pedestrians or the like in the field of view of one ormore of the cameras. For example, the image processor may comprise animage processing chip selected from the EYEQ family of image processingchips available from Mobileye Vision Technologies Ltd. of Jerusalem,Israel, and may include object detection software (such as the typesdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,855,755; 7,720,580 and/or 7,038,577, whichare hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties), andmay analyze image data to detect vehicles and/or other objects.Responsive to such image processing, and when an object or other vehicleis detected, the system may generate an alert to the driver of thevehicle and/or may generate an overlay at the displayed image tohighlight or enhance display of the detected object or vehicle, in orderto enhance the driver's awareness of the detected object or vehicle orhazardous condition during a driving maneuver of the equipped vehicle.

The vehicle may include any type of sensor or sensors, such as imagingsensors or radar sensors or lidar sensors or ladar sensors or ultrasonicsensors or the like. The imaging sensor or camera may capture image datafor image processing and may comprise any suitable camera or sensingdevice, such as, for example, a two dimensional array of a plurality ofphotosensor elements arranged in at least 640 columns and 480 rows (atleast a 640×480 imaging array, such as a megapixel imaging array or thelike), with a respective lens focusing images onto respective portionsof the array. The photosensor array may comprise a plurality ofphotosensor elements arranged in a photosensor array having rows andcolumns. Preferably, the imaging array has at least 300,000 photosensorelements or pixels, more preferably at least 500,000 photosensorelements or pixels and more preferably at least 1 million photosensorelements or pixels. The imaging array may capture color image data, suchas via spectral filtering at the array, such as via an RGB (red, greenand blue) filter or via a red/red complement filter or such as via anRCC (red, clear, clear) filter or the like. The logic and controlcircuit of the imaging sensor may function in any known manner, and theimage processing and algorithmic processing may comprise any suitablemeans for processing the images and/or image data.

For example, the vision system and/or processing and/or camera and/orcircuitry may utilize aspects described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,694,224;7,005,974; 5,760,962; 5,877,897; 5,796,094; 5,949,331; 6,302,545;6,396,397; 6,498,620; 6,523,964; 6,611,202; 6,201,642; 6,690,268;6,717,610; 6,757,109; 6,802,617; 6,806,452; 6,822,563; 6,891,563;6,946,978; 7,859,565; 5,550,677; 5,670,935; 7,881,496; 7,720,580;7,038,577; 6,882,287; 5,929,786 and/or 5,786,772, which are all herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties. The system maycommunicate with other communication systems via any suitable means,such as by utilizing aspects of the systems described in InternationalPublication Nos. WO/2010/144900; WO 2013/043661 and/or WO 2013/081985,and/or U.S. Publication No. US-2012-0062743, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

The imaging device and control and image processor and any associatedillumination source, if applicable, may comprise any suitablecomponents, and may utilize aspects of the cameras (such as variousimaging sensors or imaging array sensors or cameras or the like, such asa CMOS imaging array sensor, a CCD sensor or other sensors or the like)and vision systems described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,760,962; 5,715,093;6,922,292; 6,757,109; 6,717,610; 6,590,719; 6,201,642; 5,796,094;6,559,435; 6,831,261; 6,822,563; 6,946,978; 7,720,580; 8,542,451;7,965,336; 7,480,149; 5,550,677; 5,877,897; 6,498,620; 5,670,935;5,796,094; 6,396,397; 6,806,452; 6,690,268; 7,005,974; 7,937,667;7,123,168; 7,004,606; 6,946,978; 7,038,577; 6,353,392; 6,320,176;6,313,454 and/or 6,824,281, and/or International Publication Nos. WO2009/036176; WO 2009/046268; WO 2010/099416; WO 2011/028686 and/or WO2013/016409, and/or U.S. Pat. Publication Nos. US 2010-0020170 and/orUS-2009-0244361, which are all hereby incorporated herein by referencein their entireties.

Optionally, the vision system may include a display for displayingimages captured by one or more of the imaging sensors for viewing by thedriver of the vehicle while the driver is normally operating thevehicle. Optionally, for example, the vision system may include a videodisplay device disposed at or in the interior rearview mirror assemblyof the vehicle, such as by utilizing aspects of the video mirror displaysystems described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,041,806 and/or 6,690,268, and/orU.S. Publication No. US-2012-0162427, which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties. The video mirror display maycomprise any suitable devices and systems and optionally may utilizeaspects of the compass display systems described in U.S. Pat. Nos.7,370,983; 7,329,013; 7,308,341; 7,289,037; 7,249,860; 7,004,593;4,546,551; 5,699,044; 4,953,305; 5,576,687; 5,632,092; 5,677,851;5,708,410; 5,737,226; 5,802,727; 5,878,370; 6,087,953; 6,173,508;6,222,460; 6,513,252 and/or 6,642,851, and/or European patentapplication, published Oct. 11, 2000 under Publication No. EP 0 1043566,and/or U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0061008, which are all herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Optionally, thevideo mirror display screen or device may be operable to display imagescaptured by a rearward viewing camera of the vehicle during a reversingmaneuver of the vehicle (such as responsive to the vehicle gear actuatorbeing placed in a reverse gear position or the like) to assist thedriver in backing up the vehicle, and optionally may be operable todisplay the compass heading or directional heading character or iconwhen the vehicle is not undertaking a reversing maneuver, such as whenthe vehicle is being driven in a forward direction along a road (such asby utilizing aspects of the display system described in InternationalPublication No. WO 2012/051500, which is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety).

Optionally, the vision system (utilizing the forward facing camera and arearward facing camera and other cameras disposed at the vehicle withexterior fields of view) may be part of or may provide a display of atop-down view or bird's-eye view system of the vehicle or a surroundview at the vehicle, such as by utilizing aspects of the vision systemsdescribed in International Publication Nos. WO 2010/099416; WO2011/028686; WO 2012/075250; WO 2013/019795; WO 2012/075250; WO2012/145822; WO 2013/081985; WO 2013/086249 and/or WO 2013/109869,and/or U.S. Publication No. US-2012-0162427, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments canbe carried out without departing from the principles of the invention,which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appendedclaims, as interpreted according to the principles of patent lawincluding the doctrine of equivalents.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A vehicular vision system, the vehicularvision system comprising: a camera fixedly mounted at a vehicle equippedwith the vehicular vision system; wherein the camera comprises (i) a twodimensional imaging array having at least one million photosensingelements arranged in rows and columns and (ii) a wide angle lens thatprovides a total available field of view exterior of the vehicle of atleast 180 degrees wide; wherein the camera has a central viewing axis;wherein the central viewing axis of the camera bisects the totalavailable field of view exterior of the vehicle into an at least 90degrees zone to the left of the central viewing axis and into an atleast 90 degrees zone to the right of the central viewing axis; a videodisplay screen disposed at the vehicle and viewable by a driver of thevehicle; wherein, during a driving maneuver of the vehicle, the videodisplay screen displays video images representative of a reduced fieldof view of the camera that is less than the total available field ofview exterior of the vehicle; wherein, during the driving maneuver ofthe vehicle, and as the steering angle of the vehicle is adjusted towardthe right side of the vehicle, the reduced field of view of the cameradigitally pans toward the right side of the total available field ofview exterior of the vehicle of the camera; and wherein, during thedriving maneuver of the vehicle, and as the steering angle of thevehicle is adjusted toward the left side of the vehicle, the reducedfield of view of the camera digitally pans toward the left side of thetotal available field of view exterior of the vehicle of the camera. 2.The vehicular vision system of claim 1, wherein the camera is fixedlymounted at a rear portion of the vehicle so as to view at least rearwardof the vehicle.
 3. The vehicular vision system of claim 2, wherein thedriving maneuver of the vehicle comprises a reversing maneuver of thevehicle.
 4. The vehicular vision system of claim 3, wherein the cameracomprises a rear backup camera of the vehicle.
 5. The vehicular visionsystem of claim 1, wherein the reduced field of view of the camera isnot wider than 135 degrees.
 6. The vehicular vision system of claim 1,wherein the camera is fixedly mounted at front portion of the vehicleand views forward of the vehicle.
 7. The vehicular vision system ofclaim 6, wherein the driving maneuver of the vehicle comprises a forwarddriving maneuver of the vehicle.
 8. The vehicular vision system of claim1, wherein the camera is fixedly mounted at an in-cabin side of awindshield of the vehicle and views forward of the vehicle through thewindshield.
 9. The vehicular vision system of claim 1, wherein, duringthe driving maneuver of the vehicle, an image processor processes imagedata captured by the camera to determine presence of an object viewed bythe camera.
 10. The vehicular vision system of claim 1, wherein thereduced field of view of the camera is digitally panned via adjustingprocessing of image data captured by the camera.
 11. The vehicularvision system of claim 1, wherein the displayed video imagesrepresentative of the reduced field of view of the camera are centeredabout where the vehicle is steering toward.
 12. A vehicular visionsystem, the vehicular vision system comprising: a rear backup camerafixedly mounted at a rear portion of a vehicle equipped with thevehicular vision system; wherein the rear backup camera comprises (i) atwo dimensional CMOS imaging array having at least one millionphotosensing elements arranged in rows and columns and (ii) a wide anglelens that provides a total available field of view rearward of thevehicle of at least 180 degrees wide; wherein the rear backup camera hasa central viewing axis; wherein the central viewing axis of the rearbackup camera bisects the total available field of view rearward of thevehicle into an at least 90 degrees zone to the left of the centralviewing axis and into an at least 90 degrees zone to the right of thecentral viewing axis; a video display screen disposed at the vehicle andviewable by a driver of the vehicle; wherein, during a reversingmaneuver of the vehicle, the video display screen displays video imagesrepresentative of a reduced field of view of the rear backup camera thatis less than the total available field of view rearward of the vehicle;wherein, during the reversing maneuver of the vehicle, and as thesteering angle of the vehicle is adjusted toward the right side of thevehicle, the reduced field of view of the rear backup camera digitallypans toward the right side of the total available field of view rearwardof the vehicle of the rear backup camera; and wherein, during thereversing maneuver of the vehicle, and as the steering angle of thevehicle is adjusted toward the left side of the vehicle, the reducedfield of view of the rear backup camera digitally pans toward the leftside of the total available field of view rearward of the vehicle of therear backup camera.
 13. The vehicular vision system of claim 12, whereinthe reduced field of view of the rear backup camera is not wider than a135 degrees.
 14. The vehicular vision system of claim 12, wherein,during the reversing maneuver of the vehicle, an image processorprocesses image data captured by the rear backup camera to determinepresence of an object viewed by the rear backup camera.
 15. Thevehicular vision system of claim 12, wherein the reduced field of viewof the rear backup camera is digitally panned via adjusting processingof image data captured by the rear backup camera.
 16. The vehicularvision system of claim 12, wherein the displayed video imagesrepresentative of the reduced field of view of the rear backup cameraare centered about where the vehicle is steering toward.
 17. A vehicularvision system, the vehicular vision system comprising: a front-viewingcamera fixedly mounted at a front portion of a vehicle equipped with thevehicular vision system; wherein the front-viewing camera comprises (i)a two dimensional CMOS imaging array having at least one millionphotosensing elements arranged in rows and columns and (ii) a wide anglelens that provides a total available field of view forward of thevehicle of at least 180 degrees wide; wherein the front-viewing camerahas a central viewing axis; wherein the central viewing axis of thefront-viewing camera bisects the total available field of view forwardof the vehicle into an at least 90 degrees zone to the left of thecentral viewing axis and into an at least 90 degrees zone to the rightof the central viewing axis; a video display screen disposed at thevehicle and viewable by a driver of the vehicle; wherein, during adriving maneuver of the vehicle, and as the steering angle of thevehicle is adjusted toward the right side of the vehicle, a reducedfield of view of the front-viewing camera that is less than the totalavailable field of view forward of the vehicle digitally pans toward theright side of the total available field of view forward of the vehicleof the front-viewing camera; and wherein, during the driving maneuver ofthe vehicle, and as the steering angle of the vehicle is adjusted towardthe left side of the vehicle, the reduced field of view of thefront-viewing camera digitally pans toward the left side of the totalavailable field of view forward of the vehicle of the front-viewingcamera.
 18. The vehicular vision system of claim 17, wherein the reducedfield of view of the front-viewing camera is not wider than 135 degrees.19. The vehicular vision system of claim 17, wherein, during the drivingmaneuver of the vehicle, an image processor processes image datacaptured by the front-viewing camera to determine presence of an objectviewed by the front-viewing camera.
 20. The vehicular vision system ofclaim 17, wherein the reduced field of view of the front-viewing camerais digitally panned via adjusting processing of image data captured bythe front-viewing camera.
 21. The vehicular vision system of claim 17,wherein the displayed video images representative of the reduced fieldof view of the front-viewing camera are centered about where the vehicleis steering toward.